Finalists in Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra’s Soloist Competition to perform in May

They submitted audition tapes. They waited. They made the first cut… and then the second. Now, the three finalists of the first-ever Soloist competition eagerly await their turn to share the stage with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra (CCSO) on May 4 & 5.

Taylin Im of Rhode Island, Luke Scott of Connecticut and Monika Woods of Massachusetts (Brewster, to be exact) played passionately at The Soloist semi-finals on March 2, wowing the crowd and judges and winning over online voters, too.

“There’s no greater excitement than performing with an orchestra, so I’m really excited to have this chance with the Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Jung-Ho Pak,” said Im, who has seen Pak conduct in San Diego and at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Im first played with an orchestra when she was 11.

Backstage at The Soloist semi-finals earlier this month, there were lots of high fives and congratulatory hugs between musicians and their accompanists, making it hard to tell who would be behind the curtain again in May.

“I really do like to sing everything, and have performed a variety of different styles and really appreciate them all, but I think the most thrilling thing is opera, and that’s why I want to see where this goes,” said Scott, a baritone who will once again perform two operatic arias during the finals in May.

Monika Woods of Brewster, one of just two clarinetists to audition for The Soloist, also found her way all the way to the top three. She will once again perform “Concertino for Clarinet and Piano” for the finals.

“I love this piece because von Weber just goes for it, no holds barred; he doesn’t really worry about being over the top,” said Woods.

“I guess I’m at the point in my life where I just want to go for it, too. Me, Monika von Woods,” Woods added with a laugh.

All three finalists will win a cash prize, but the audience alone will decide who places first ($3,500), second ($2,000) and third ($1,000).

Each finalist will perform the same piece played in the semi-finals, but this time with the orchestra in the first half of CCSO’s “The Virtuosos” concert on May 4 & 5. During the second half, votes will be tabulated while the audience enjoys Béla Bartók’s beautiful Concerto for Orchestra.

The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra will then present the first-ever Soloist at the conclusion of the concert on Sunday, May 5.

Sixty-two applicants applied for The Soloist competition, including 22 vocalists, 12 pianists and two clarinetists. They ranged in age from 10 to 61 and hailed from all over New England.

“This will be an exciting conclusion to our regular concert season. We didn’t know what to expect when we first announced this competition and we are very pleased with the response, particularly the three musicians that became finalists. I am certain that they will help make our May concert an amazing experience,” said Executive Director Jerome Karter.